Strategic planning

School Assembly is the podcast series that explores what it takes to build a school from the ground up. In this episode we catch up with Notre Dame College Principal Dan McShea to talk about crafting the school vision, mission and motto.

In this Q&A, we speak to Kirsten Hodgson and Bryan Kilkenny from St Monica’s College about their approach to explicit instruction, how they use professional learning to support staff in shifting their practice, and what they’ve learned from visiting other schools that have undertaken a similar journey.

We’re joined by Professor David Hopkins ahead of his keynote at ACER’s Research Conference 2025, titled ‘Unleashing Greatness – A Strategy for School Improvement’. Our conversation zeros in on one of the 8 steps of his strategy, instructional leadership, and includes practical pointers and plenty to reflect on in relation to your own context and practice.

As a teacher or school leader, what are the mental health needs of your students? How do you promote mental health and wellbeing? What would a whole-school approach look like in your own context? Educational and Developmental Psychologist Dr Jane Kirkham shares details of an organisational tool called the ‘Wellbeing Tree’.

In Series 3 of our School Assembly podcast, we’re following Dan McShea – Foundation Principal of the new P-12 Notre Dame College on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. Episode 2 is all about student enrolments – from juggling the many enrolment interviews, to some eye-catching ways of selling a vision for a school that doesn’t exist yet.

From the uniform and building names to community consultation and learning, Aboriginal perspectives and culture is woven into the fabric of Googong Public School. Teacher speaks to principal Rebekah Lindsay, a 2024 NAIDOC Teacher of the Year Award winner, about their approach and the success it’s bringing.

On 22 February, Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) launched its position statement, Vision for Instruction, outlining the goals, methods and processes for embedding a refreshed and system-wide approach to achieving teaching and learning excellence. Find out more in this article.

High quality implementation of educational approaches can have a significant impact on improving students' outcomes. But when it comes to implementing a new approach, how can schools ensure it’s being done effectively? We speak with AERO’s Kate Griffiths.

For Series 3 of School Assembly, we’re switching locations and widening the student age range. Dan McShea is Foundation Principal of Notre Dame College, a P-12 in Bells Creek on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. In Episode 1, Teacher editor Jo Earp finds out more about the college, Dan’s previous leadership roles and his involvement in community life.

In ‘The Connection Curriculum: Igniting Positive Change in Schools Through Sustainable Curriculum’ Matt Pitman explores the role of connection in fostering students’ academic achievement and wellbeing. This exclusive extract for Teacher readers focuses on one of 3 key landmarks – meaning.